Helical cross tie



Nov. 7, 1933. H LEAL 1,933,914

HELICAL CROSS TIE Filed April 15, 1953 I" .4 I j IQVENTOR Patented Nov.7, 1933 HELICAL CROSS TIE Hugh Leal, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, assignorto L. A. Young Spring & Wire Corporation,

Detroit, Mich.

Application April 13, 1933. Serial No. 665,909

2 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide a helical connector ortie member for spring cushion structures having terminal hooks whichenable the quick and secure engagement of the connector with bodysprings of a cushion structure or the like.

A further object is to provide a helical tie member or connector inwhich the terminal hooks are so positioned that pull on the spring iscentral or in the longitudinal central plane thereof.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in theclaims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a spring cushion structureillustrating an application of my improved spring tie or connector unit.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View further illustrating the form of the hook,the engaged part being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the engaged part shown in dotted line.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view il1us-.

trating the manner of engaging the hook.

In the accompanying drawing, '1 represents the body springs of a springcushion or bed structure and 2 the border frame thereof. My improvedhelical connector or tie members 3 are formed of suitable gage wire andterminate in hooks 4 by which the connectors or tie members are securedto the end coils of the body springs. In forming these hooks the springsare cut into suitable length and complete end coils and segmentalportions of adjacent coils are disposed at an angle to the normal pitchof the coils, providing the circular hooks a with inwardly offset shankportions 5. The bills 6 of the hooks lie in spaced overlapping relationto the inwardly offset shank portions 5, thereby facilitating theengagement of the hooks with the parts to be connected, such as the endcoils of the body springs. The bills of the hooks lie within thediameter of and close to the adjacent end coils 7 which constituteguards for the hooks.

By reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 it will be observed that the hooks andthe adjacent end coils form a flaring mouth or guide to facilitateengagement of the hooks with the parts, it only being necessary topresent this flaring mouth to the part to be engaged and push on thespring which forces the part to be engaged between the offset shank andthe bill of the hook, the part snapping under the bill of the hook andadjacent to the end coil '7 which constitutes a guard for the hook. Itis very difiicult, in fact, quite impossible, to disengage the hookswithout such stress as would deform the hook or require carefulmanipulation by a tool or otherwise to spring the bill of the hook overthe engaged part.

It will be observed. that the inward offsetting of the coil forming thehook, as best shown in Fig. 2, provides a shoulder or hump at the end ofthe undeformed portion of the adjacent coil, and that this shoulder orhump is in opposed relation to the bill of the hook. This greatlyfacilitates the application of the tie member and also renders it verydiilicult to disengage without manual manipulation or severe stress suchas would distort the parts, and they are, of course, designed towithstand the stress to which they are normally subjected. Engagement iseffected by a very slight rotary movement, that is, the element ispresented to the coil of the body spring so that it enters the throatbetween the bill and the opposed hump, and a slight twisting or rotarymovement is eifective to engage the hook. To disengage the parts theymust be manually manipulated by means of a tool to get the spring underthe bill as removing stress tends to swing the bill toward the hump, orthe structure must be subjected to such twisting stress as will springthe hook. Such stress is unlikely in normal operation.

The bights of the hooks lie in approximately the longitudinal centerplane of the helical connectors so that there is a minimum tendency todistort the connectors under stress. The connectors may be very easilyandquickly engaged and are very secure. In practice they are preferablyarranged in crossed inter-engaging pairs as shown in the drawing. Whilethe connector is especially designed and adapted for use in springcushion structures, it is desirable for use in other relations,particularly where rapid and easy attachment of the spring is desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A helical connector having complete end coils thereof and segments ofthe adjacent coils disposed at an angle to the normal pitch of the coilsproviding circular hooks with inwardly offset shank portions, the billsof the hooks lying in spaced overlapping relation to the inwardly offsetshank portions of the hooks and lying within the diameter of and closeto the adjacent coils which coils constitute guards therefor.

2. A helical connector for spring structures having the end coilsthereof disposed at an angle to the normal pitch of the coils providingcircular hooks, there being inward offsets at the bases of the hooks,the bills of the hooks lying in overlapping relation to such offsets andterminating within the diameter of and close to theadjacent coils whichconstitute guards therefor.

HUGH LEAL.

